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AUTHOR: 


POND ,  CHESTER  E . 


TITLE: 


TESTIMONY  TO  THE 
VALUE  OF  SWEDENBORG'S 
WRITINGS  .   .   . 


PLACE: 


PHILADELPHIA 


DATE: 


[N .  D .  ] 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 

pjl^T  ^^'^-^  APHir  MTCROFORM  TARGET 


Master  Negative  # 

9J  -ro  773 z^ 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


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938.94 

7.1       ^Pondf  Chester  E       y 

A  testimony  to  the  value  of  Swedenborg^s 

writings,  from  a  member  of  an  orthodox  church  addressed 

to  all  true  lovers  of  Christ  ••• 

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A  Testimony 


TO  THE  VALUE  OP 


,    SWEDENBORG'S  WRITINGS. 

FROM 

A  MEMBER  OF  AN  ORTHODOX 
CHURCH. 

ADDKESSBD 


TO  ALL  TRUE  LO  VERS  OF  CHRIST  AND  SEEK- 
ERS AFTER  GENUINE  TRUTH, 


t      ^      t 


-•oJOioo- 


^/ 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR, 

No.  1111  GiRARD  Street. 


A  Testimony 


f 


TO  THE  VALUE  OP 

SWEDENBOEG'S  WEITINGS. 

BY 
CHESTER  E.  POND. 


» 


I 


THE  attention  of  Christians  is  now  being 
called  as  never  before,  to  the  Teachings 
of  this  eminent  man  ;  and  I  esteem  it  a  privi- 
lege as  it  is  a  pleasure  to  offer  a  few  words 
of  personal  testimony  to  their  priceless  worth. 

For  nearly  a  third  of  a  century  I  have  pro- 
fessed myself  a  disciple  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  have  endeavored  to  walk  in  the 
way  of  his  commandments.  And  latterly,  I 
can  say  (and  I  say  it  without  boasting,  but 
with  humility  and  deep  thankfulness)  that  my 
communion  with  Him  has  been  most  intimate, 
and  at  times  inexpressibly  sweet. 

The  Writings  of  Emanuel  Swedenborg  have 
afforded  me  incalculable  assistance  in  all  my 
Bible  study.  They  have  opened  up  new  and 
vast  fields  for  thought  and  meditation,  and 
have  been  the  means  of  unnumbered  blessings 
to  my  soul  During  my  first  year's  reading,  I 
believe  I  obtained  more  valuable  religious 
knowledge  from  these  books,  than  I  had  ob- 
tained from  all  other  sources  during  my  whole 
previous  life  ;  although  some  twenty-five  years 

3 


4  A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OF 

ago  I  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Yale  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  and  have,  ever  since  my  conver- 
sion, been  regular  at  Church,  Sabbath  School 
and  Prayer  meeting. 

Therefore,  prompted  by  love  to  God  and 
man,  I  offer  these  experiences  and  suggestions 
for  the  benefit  of  all  sincere  Bible  students, 
whose  eyes  the  Lord  has  opened  to  see  the 
need  of  more  thorough  Bible  study,  as  well  as 
of  a  purer  and  holier  life,  among  Christians 
generally  ;  and  who  also  feel  the  need  of  some 
new  light  on  Church  Doctrines,  so  that  all  true 
Christians,  irrespective  of  names,  creeds,  or  ex- 
ternal forms  of  worship,  can  hereafter  walk  and 
work  together  in  the  bonds  of  a  true  Christian 
fellowship. 

I  offer  this  testimony  for  the  aid  of  those  who 
are  seeking  some  clear  and  v)ell  lighted  'pathway ^ 
free  from  error  and  superstition,  free  from  met- 
aphysical fogs  and  subtleties,  and  that  cuts 
straight  through  all  the  discordant  jungles  of 
ecclesiastical  denominationalism ;  even  a  Gold- 
en Pathway  that  leads  to  the  already  opening 
fields  of  pure  and  holy  living,  where  ''  the  wolf 
and  the  lamb  shall  feed  together,''  and  where 
"  they  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  my  holy 
mountain,  saith  the  Lord." 

To  all  who  are  willing  and  anxious  to  enter 
upon  this  comparatively  unknown  yet  well 
lighted  Pathway  of  Golden  Truth,  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  saying  that  the  very  best  books 
ever  written  on  high  and  holy  living,  or  genu- 
ine Bible  holiness,  outside  of  the  Bible  itself, 
are  the  Theological  Works  of  Emanuel  Swe- 
denborg. 


SWEDENBORG'S  WRITINGS.  5 

There  is  no  theme  within  the  range  of  exalt- 
ed Christian  thought,  on  which  this  writer  does 
not  give  us  something  new  and  striking.  And, 
contrary  to  the  mistaken  notions  of  most  peo- 
ple, he  is  eminently  practical  in  his  teachings. 
No  man  has  so  clearly  set  forth  or  so  strongly 
emphasized  the  heavenly  doctrine  of  "use," 
as  Swedenborg.  All  his  descriptions  of  the  fu- 
ture life  have  a  wholesome  practical  tendency, 
and  are  for  the  benefit  of  people  in  this  present 
Ufe.  He  has  formulated  more  practical  Chris- 
tian thought,  and  said  more  practically  useful 
things,  than  any  other  ton  theological  reformers 
that  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He  simplifies  and 
explains  (by  the  application  of  that  grand  Key 
—  Correspondence)  the  most  difticult  passages 
of  Scripture,  and  every  mysterious  theological 
doctrine  which  men  have  been  puzzling  and 
quarreling  over  for  centuries,  —  making  them 
reasonable  and  plain  to  every  candid  mind  of 
ordinary  intelligence. 

But  owing  to  a  strange  yet  prevailing  igno- 
rance of  the  practical  nature  of  these  Writings, 
and  hence  to  a  wide-spread  misconception  of 
their  intrinsic  value,  there  exists  in  the  minds 
of  many,  as  there  once  did  in  my  own  mind,  a 
strong  prejudice  against  them. 

But  I  can  now  say  that,  by  the  careful  study 
of  these  luminous  Writings  in  connection  with 
my  extended  daily  Bible  study,  I  honestly  be- 
lieve that  I  have  become  better  acquainted 
with  Heaven,  with  the  plan  of  Redemption, 
with  the  terrible  n'ature  and  consequences  of 
sin,  with  my  own  interior  heart-life,  and  with 


6  A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE    VALUE  OP 

the  dear  Lord  himself,  than  I  could  possibly 
have  done  in  any  other  known  way. 

Furthermore,  I  believe  that  by  the  aid  of 
these  Writings  I  am  daily  acquiring  such  a 
growing  fitness  for  the  society  of  Heaven,  and 
for  the  more  immediate  presence  of  the  Lord 
Jehovah,  as  I  could  not  otherwise  acquire  in 
this  life.  Every  day  the  Lord  manifests  his 
love  to  me  so  forcibly  and  consciously,  that  I 
am  literally  ^^  filled  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full 
of  glory y 

The  inspired  Psalmist  says  :  "Come  and  hear, 
all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I  will  declare  what  he 
hath  done  for  my  soul."  And  it  is  now  my 
privilege  to  say  (and  I  say  it  with  profound 
gratitude)  that  the  dear  Lord  has  done  great 
things  for  my  soul ;  and  that  these  spiritual  and 
truly  wonderful  Writings  are  instrumental  in 
drawing  me  nearer  to  Him  every  day,  and  in  giv- 
ing me  a  deeper  and  deeper  insight  into  His  holy 
Word.  I  therefore  believe  that  others  will  be 
glad  to  know  this  ;  and  I  am  sure  it  cannot  be 
many  years  before  these  Writings  will  be  con- 
sidered of  more  practical  value  to  every  honest- 
hearted  Bible  student,  than  any  other  known 
Commentary. 

They  are  so  profoundly  philosophical,  arc  in 
such  perfect  harmony  with  sound  reason,  and 
so  pre-eminently  Scriptural  withal,  that  they 
cannot  fail  to  commend  themselves  to  every  in- 
telligent and  unprejudiced  reader.  Most  un- 
questionably, therefore,  they  are  destined  to  be 
the  great  instrument  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord, 
in  sweeping  away  the  present  coldness,  indif- 
ference, worldly-mindedness,  sectarianism,  and 


SWEDENBORQ'S  WRITINGS.  7 

such  fossilized  creeds  as  are  now  checking  the 
progress  of  vital  godliness  in  nearly  all  our  or- 
thodox churches. 

In  all  ages  devout  and  teachable  hearts  have 
at  times  felt  the  need  of  more  light  on  spiritual 
things.  The  pious  John  Robinson,  in  his  part- 
ing advice  to  our  Puritan  Fathers,  gave  ex- 
pression to  this  feeling,  as  well  as  to  his  belief 
in  a  progressive  Christianity,  when  he  said: 
"If  God  reveal  anything  to  you,  be  ready  to 
receive  it ;  for  I  am  verily  persuaded  that  the 
Lord  has  more  truth  yet  to  break  forth  out  of 
His  holy  Word." 

Sectarianism  is  the  offspring  of  human  self- 
ishness. To  the  outside  world,  its  extensive 
prevalence  in  the  churches  is  the  chief  of  all 
stumbling  blocks.  Its  existence  and  domina- 
tion in  Christendom  to-day,  necessitate  the 
waste  of  millions  of  money  annually,  which 
ought  to  be  given  to  the  Lord.  The  most 
Christ-like  men  and  women  are  those  who  are 
most  teachable,  most  ready  to  welcome  new 
truth  through  whatever  channel  it  may  come, 
and  who  have  least  of  the  odious  spirit  of  sect. 
But  worldly-minded  Christians  have  little  of 
childlike  teachableness  ;  they  are  firmly  bound 
by  their  creeds,  and  are  inclined  to  look  with 
intolerance  if  not  contempt  upon  nearly  every 

new  idea. 

The  early  Christians  were  distinguished  by 
their  peculiar  love  for  the  Lord  and  for  each 
other.  Their  different  churches  were  known 
by  their  location.  The  dwellers  at  Home  were 
called  Romans,  and  those  at  Corinth,  Corin- 
thians.   But  now,  when  church  members  are 


8 


A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OF 


distinguished  by  their  peculiar  ceremonies,  be- 
lirfs,  or  church  polity,  rather  than  by  their  love 
of  the  Lord  or  of  each  other,  they  are  called 
Baptists,  Presbyterians,  Methodists,  Congrega- 
tionalists,  etc.  The  very  fact  that  there  are 
so  many  different  sects,  and  that  so  many  of 
their  members  are  sadly  lacking  in  true  spirit- 
ual life,  ought  to  convince  every  thoughtful 
Christian  that  somethinsj  is  wronsf  with  the 
churgh  somewhere.  And  it  ought  to  lead  all 
honest  minds  to  hail  with  joy  every  new  ray 
of  light,  and  every  sign  of  spiritual  progress. 
Looking  upon  the  world  at  large,  and  consider- 
ing the  great  advance  which  Christianity  has 
made  in  the  different  nations  within  the  last 
hundred  years,  I  cannot  resist  the  conviction 
that  the  spiritual  coming  of  the  Lord,  "with 
power  and  great  glory,"  has  already  begun. 
And  I  believe  further,  that  by  means  of  Swe- 
denborg's  luminous  teachings,  the  Lord  will 
gradually  dispel  every  cloud  which  now  dark- 
ens the  heavens  and  distracts  and  divides  His 
church. 

Swedenborg  himself  seemed  to  have  had  no 
thouQ;ht  of  becoming  the  founder  of  a  religious 
sect  or  denomination.  He  wrote  for  the  benefit 
of  the  church  and  the  world  at  large.  But  no 
one  can  appreciate  the  exalted  worth,  or  the 
purity  and  holiness  of  his  Writings,  but  in  the 
degree  that  he  has  himself  been  cleansed  from 
sm  and  sectarianism^  and  *'w?acZe  white  ^n  the 
blood  of  the  Lamh.''^  A  worldly-minded  Chris- 
tian can  neither  understand  nor  appreciate  a 
heavenly-minded  writer. 

The  New   Church   organization   is  doing  a 


bwedenborg's  writings. 


9 


great  and  good  work  in  disseminating  the  New 
Truths ;  and  if  some  of  those  belonging  to  it 
have  not  yet  caught  Swedenborg's  spirit  of 
vital  godliness,  genuine  holiness,  or  disinterested 
love  of  the  neighbor,  it  ought  not  to  surprise 
any  one.  Indeed,  it  would  greatly  surprise  us 
to  find  it  otherwise.  But  if  the  members  of 
this  organization  generally  were  now  enjoying 
tluit  interior  heart  union  with  the  Lord  of  which 
Swedenborg  so  often  speaks,  and  which  consti- 
tutes the  great  central  thought  of  all  his  teach- 
ings, I  believe  they  would  shortly  accomplish 
more  toward  evangelizing  the  world,  than  all 
the  other  denominations  combined. 

It  is,  I  think,  quite  possible  for  a  man  to 
become  intellectually  acquainted  with  all  the 
doctrinal  teachings  of  Swedenborg,  and  conse- 
quently be  able  to  rejoice  in  the  pleasurable 
gratification  of  his  own  reasoning  powers,  and  yet 
remain  spiritually  dead.  And  I  think,  further, 
that  there  are  thousands  in  the  orthodox 
churches  to-day,  who  are  resting  in  a  sort  of 
conscious  satisfaction  of  their  reasoning  powers, 
while  their  hearts  are  cold  as  stones.  They 
mistake  the  pleasures  of  their  own  reason  for  the 
warmth  of  Divine  Love, 

As  T  understand  Swedenborg,  the  New 
Church  in  Christian  lands  embraces  all  devout 
Christians  who  beUeve  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
and  live  according  to  his  commandments.  This 
Church  is  the  true  Body  of  Christ,  the  Elect, 
the  Remnant,  the  Bride,  the  Lamb's  wife, 
—  possibly  but  a  small  portion  of  nominal 
church  members.  This  was  the  belief  of  the 
excellent  John  Clowes,  and  has  been  that  of 


10 


A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OF 


other  distinguished  students  of  Swedenborg  and 
expounders  of  his  teachings.* 

But  the  genuine  Swedenborgian  is  not,  as 
some  seem  to  imagine,  one  who  thinks  more  of 
Swedenborg  than  he  does  of  his  Bible.  For 
the  great  seer's  first  rule  for  his  own  private  life 
was :  "  Often  to  read  and  meditate  on  the  Word 
of  God.''''  Nothing  can  supply  the  place  of  the 
inspired  Word  which  '*in  the  beginning  was 
God,"  and  forever  is  God.  The  Lord  speaks  to 
us  through  the  Bible  as  with  a  living  voice. 
Every  devout  Christian  is  conscious  of  a  special 
Divine  influx  and  internal  illumination  that 
comes  to  him  from  the  written  Word.  The 
Lord  is  especially  present  with  every  man, 
woman  and  child,  whenever  they  are  belie v- 
ingly  and  reverently  reading  His  Word.  This 
is  Swedenborg's  teaching,  often  repeated  in  his 
works ;  therefore  to  neglect  the  Word  is  to 
starve  the  soul. 

Within  twenty-five  years  there  has  been  a 
great  change  in  orthodox  preaching.  The  ob- 
iectionable  features  of  orthodoxy  are  gradually 
being  softened  or  sloughed  off.  Old  creeds  are 
becoming  fossilized ;  and  so  far  as  they  are 
fossilized,  they  are  no  part  of  genuine  ortho- 
doxy. But  when  ministers  write  theological 
essays,  or  make  speeches  in  ecclesiastical 
assemblies,  they  generally  adhere  to  their  old 
creeds,  and  even  go  so  far  as  to  say,  (as  did 


♦  See  "  The  Golden  City,"  by  B.  F.  Barrett,  pp. 
172-188.  And  "The  New  Church;  Its  Nature  and 
Whereabout,"  by  the  same  author,  pp.  162-213.  Also 
Vol.  III.  of  "  The  Swedenborg  Library,"  pp.  223-245. 


swedenborg's  writings. 


11 


the  first  speaker  in  the  late  Pan-Presbyterian 
Council  in  this  city)  *' we  want  no  new  prin- 
ciples; we  want  no  new  creeds."  But  when 
they  are  at  home  among  their  own  people,  con- 
versing with  sinners,  with  the  sick  and  dying, 
or  earnestly  prcacliing  to  anxious  hearers,  they 
frequently  forget  their  creeds  and  preach  Scrip- 
tural common  sense  much  oftener  than  they 
did  twenty-five  years  ago. 

The  difference  between  orthodoxy  and  the 
teachings  of  Swedenborg  are  becoming  less  and 
less  every  year.    I  think  "  New  Church  "  people 
are  apt  to  consider  this  difference  greater  than 
it  really  is.     And  orthodox  people  are  almost 
wholly  mistaken  in  their  ideas  of  the  teachings 
of   Swedenborg.      Tliey    form    their   opinions 
mostly,  I  think,  from  "hearsay."    Now  if  both 
parties  would   becoYne   personally  acquainted 
with  each  other's  present  beliefs  and  teachings, 
they  would  both  be  surprised  to  find  that,  in 
spirit^  they  are  united  on  all  important  moral 
and  religious  questions.    Their  language  would 
often  be  different,  but  their  thought  and  prac- 1 
tice  would    be    about   the   same.      The   love- 
element  and   the  truth-element   in    a  man's 
nature  should  be  well  balanced.     But  there  are 
many  orthodox  people  who  have  more  love  in 
their  hearts  than  truth  in  their  heads;   and 
there  are  some  "New  Church  "  people,  I  think, 
who  have  more  truth  in  their  heads  than  love 
in  their  hearts.    All  our  doctrines  must  be  con- 
joined with  love,  or  they  are  of  little  avail. 

The  majority  of  people  rest  their  faith,  in  a 
large  degree,  on  the  creeds  and  opinions  of 
others.     Yet,  there  is,  I  think,  a  genuine  Bible 


12 


A  TESTIMONY   TO  THE  VALUE  OF 


Orthodoxy  which  now  constitutes  the  great 
good  heart  of  the  present  evangelical  churches, 
and  which,  in  time,  may  "leaven  the  whole 
lump."  Yet,  as  illustrating  the  melancholy 
divorce  of  the  popular  theology  from  morality 
or  righteous  limng  in  this  our  day,  a  minister  of 
my  acquaintance,  speaking  of  a  young  man 
who  has  been  reading  Swedenborg,  said  of  him 
not  long  since :  "His  theology  has  gone  to  the 
dogs,  but  his  morals  have  been  greatly  im- 
proved." He  meant,  I  suppose,  his  theology 
as  formulated  in  the  old  and  still  prevalent 
creeds. 

Now  in  view  of  the  present  deplorable  state 
of  religion,  or  of  real  heart-life  in  the  churches, 
who  will  say  that  there  is  no  need  of  an  influx 
of  new  light  and  life  from  on  High  ?  In  time 
past  the  Lord  gave  new  light  to  the  church 
through  Luther,  Wesley,  Baxter,  Whitfield, 
and  others.  To-day  He  is  giving  it  through 
a  number  of  his  devoted  servants  in  different 
Christian  denominations.  But  the  one  exceed- 
ing great  light  brilliant  above  all  others,  is  now 
coming  to  us  through  Swedenborg.  This  light 
is  so  pure  and  bright  that  at  first  it  dazzles  the 
eyes  of  many  conservative  Christians.  They 
are  almost  afraid  to  investigate,  or  even  to  look 
at  the  teachings  of  this  man.  But  be  not  faith- 
less, my  good  brother,  but  believing ;  for  the 
Lord's  truth  can  hurt  nothing  but  sin.  As  the 
heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are  God's 
ways  higher  than  our  ways. 

Men  naturally  reject  the  instruments  of  the 
Lord's  choosing,  and  demand  something  dif- 
ferent.    When  He  chooses  a  Swedenborg,  the 


swedenborg's  writings. 


13 


leaders  in  the  churches  want  something  else. 
So  has  it  been  ever  since  the  Fall.  When  the 
God  of  Love  clothed  Himself  with  our  human- 
ity, the  chief  priests  refused  to  receive  Him, 
and  were  the  chief  instruments  in  putting  Him 
to  death.  And  now  when  He  comes  again, 
spiritually,  in  the  power  and  great  glory  of 
his  Word  unfolded  in  its  true  and  heavenly 
meaning,  most  of  the  chief  priests  of  our  day 
refuse  to  receive  Him,  and  some  of  them  are 
ready,  without  investigation,  to  cry,  "  mys- 
ticism," "spiritualism,"  "demonism,"  and 
"ghost  smoke."  What  is  this  but  the  same 
old  cry,  "  He  hath  a  devil  and  is  mad,"  repeat- 
ed in  a  little  different  form  ? 

Yet,  in  the  face  of  all  opposition  and  many 
obstacles,  the  truth  is  gradually  winning  its 
way,  and  the  new  spiritual  church,  the  real 
New  Jerusalem,  is  actually  "coming  down 
from  God  out  of  Heaven,  prepared  as  a  bride 
adorned  for  her  husband." 

To  me  the  Writings  of  Swedenborg  are  al- 
ways a  source  of  holy  inspiration.  They  tend 
to  enliven  my  devotions,  to  strengthen  my 
faith,  and  to  stimulate  me  to  greater  efforts  in 
the  service  of  the  Master.  No  books  outside 
of  the  Bible  itself,  are  so  heart-searching  and 
BO  elevating  as  these.  Seldom  do  I  read  a  page 
of  them,  that  does  not  move  me  to  earnest 
prayer  or  devout  praise  and  thanksgiving. 

I  think  those  who  accept  and  try  to  teach 
the  heavenly  doctrines  of  Swedenborg,  from 
an  intellectual  standpoint  merely,  make  many 
mistakes.  They  leave  out  the  Love  Element 
—  the  deep  and  holy  heart-experience  that  per- 


14 


A   TESTIMONY   TO  THE  VALUE  OF 


vades  all  of  his  Writings,  and  convey  therefore 
a  wrong  impression  to  their  readers  and  hear- 
ers, taking  the  very  essence  and  life  out  of  all 
that  he  teaches. 

Divine  Love  must  first  pervade  and  enwrap 
one's  whole  soul,  body  and  spirit,  before  he 
can  fully  understand  or  clearly  portray  the 
true  meaning  of  these  Writings.  For  they  are 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love  to  God  and  love  to 
man,  from  beginning  to  end. 

Genuine  love  is  the  true  starting  point,  as  it 
is  the  final  goal,  of  everything  in  religion.  A 
man  of  the  world,  or  a  formal  professor  of  re- 
ligion, may  indeed  read  the  works  of  Sweden- 
borg  with  more  or  less  pleasure  and  profit ;  but 
he  will  not  be  able  to  catch  their  heavenly  spirit 
—  the  spirit  of  true  practical  holiness.  No  one 
can  understand  the  rich  and  rare  experiences  of 
this  man  any  more  than  he  can  the  experiences 
of  the  beloved  disciple  in  the  isle  of  Patmos,  un- 
til his  own  soul  is  measurably  "filled  with  faith 
and  the  Holy  Ghost." 

The  kind  or  class  of  ideas  we  derive  from 
the  Bible,  or  from  Swedenborg,  depends  almost 
wholly  upon  the  state  of  our  own  hearts.  One 
man  will  derive  one  class  of  ideas,  another  man 
another  class,  differing  according  to  the  quality 
of  each  one's  love  or  inner  life.  The  things  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  are  foolishness  to  the  natural 
man ;  but  he  that  is  spiritual  judgeth  (or  dis- 
cerneth)  all  things. 

There  are  two  prominent  features  in  the 
teachings  of  Swedenborg.  First:— Ke  mani- 
fests the  highest  conceivable  reverence  for,  and 
faith  in,  the  Sacred  Scriptures.    In  this  respect, 


SWEDENBORG'S  WRITINGS. 


15 


V 


he  goes  far  above  and  beyond  the  theory  and 
practice  of  orthodox  Christians  generally. 

Secondly ;— He  exalts  the  Divinity  of  Christ 
supremely.  He  proves  beyond  all  question, 
that  the  Trinity  all  dwells  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  showing  that,  as  Paul  says,  ''In  Him 
dwelleth  all  the  fullness  of  the  Godhead  bodily.'^ 
Or,  as  Christ  himself  says,  "Jam  in  the  Father, 
and  the  Father  in  me."  ''He  that  hath  seen  nie 
hath  seen  the  Father.''^ 

The  new  light  that  Swedenborg  throws  upon 
this  one  doctrine  — the  Trinity  — will  be  of  in- 
calculable service  to  the  church  and  the  world. 
For  all  else  in  religion  depends  largely  upon 
having  true  and  reasonable  ideas  of  God.  The 
Lord  gives  new  light  just  as  fast  as  men  are 
ready  to  receive  it.  The  world  at  large  is  grow- 
ing better  every  year.  There  are  more  godly 
men  and  women  in  the  churches  to-day,  than 
at  any  previous  time.  Yet  every  warm-heart- 
ed Christian  realizes  the  need  of  more  light  on 
spiritual  things,  and  the  need  of  more  spiritual 
power  among  the  great    mass  of  professing 

Christians. 

Swedenborg  upholds  in  the  strongest  terms 
the  doctrine  that  (in  Christendom)  there  is 
no  possible  salvation  from  a  terrible  hell,  but  / 
through  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And 
he  teaches  also  that  faith  itself  is  of  no  possi- 
ble use,  unless  accompanied  by  a  correspond- 
ing holy  life.  As  the  apostle  James  says, 
"  Faith  without  works  is  dead,  being  alone.''^ 

He  points  out  the  great  dangers,  too,  of  mod- 
ern Spiritualism,  and  shows  us  WHY  it  is  so 
dangerous. 


10 


A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OP 


swedenborg's  writings. 


17 


He  is  fundamentally  opposed  to  the  Unita- 
rians ;  for  while  they  lessen  or  destroy  the  Di- 
vinity of  Christ,  he  magnifies  and  exalts  it, 
making  it  absolute,  supreme  and  perfect. 

All  his  descriptions  of  the  next  life  are  in 
exact  accord  with  those  given  in  the  Bible.  If, 
therefore,  you  believe  that  the  one  is  a  mere 
fancy,  you  must  believe  that  the  other  is  a 
fancy  also. 

In  all  ages  of  the  world  the  Lord  has,  at 
times,  opened  the  eyes  of  His  children  to  see 
spiritual  things.  I  am  personally  acquainted 
with  three  devoted  servants  of  the  Lord,  who 
have  had  distinct  views  of  the  spiritual  world. 
Such  views,  however,  are  more  commonly  given 
just  before  death.  To  most  people,  any  future 
existence  at  all  is  a  matter  of  great  uncertainty. 
To  many  professors  of  religion  even,  the  future 
life  is  a  mere  "I  hope  so,"  or  "I  guess  so." 
AVhen  speaking  of  a  life  to  come,  they  use  a 
great  many  ifs.  The  way  the  majority  of 
church  members  live,  and  the  large  amount  of 
money  they  spend  over  the  dead  bodies  of  their 
friends,  show  that  they  have  very  little  expec- 
tation of  anything  beyond  this  present  house 
of  clay.  Practically,  they  are  saying  to  the 
world,  "Let  us  eat,  drink  and  be  merry,  for  to- 
morrow we  die,"  and  that  is  the  end  of  us. 

There  is,  therefore,  great  need  of  more  light 
on  spiritual  things  and  the  spiritual  world. 
For  men  will  not  live  with  reference  to  a  future 
life,  unless  they  actually  believe  in  a  future 
life.  And  no  one  does  actually  believe  in  a 
future  life,  who  does  not  now  live  with  refer- 
ence to  it.     Actions  always  speak  louder  than 


\ 


^ 

r 


•y 


words.  It  is  one  thing  to  talk  about  the  possi- 
bilities of  a  future  existence,  and  a  very  differ- 
ent thing  to  actually  know,  that,  just  as  soon 
as  your  heart  stops  beating,  you  are  going 
straight  to  heaven  or  to  hell,  according  to  the 
nature  of  your  ruling  love. 

The  Writings  of  Swedenborg  bring  the  future 
life  before  us  as  a  present  and  positive  reality. 
His  spiritual  sight  was  open  for  many  years. 
This  gave  him  an  abundant  opportunity  to 
describe  the  horrors  of  hell  and  the  glories  of 
heaven.  His  works  therefore  strengthen  the 
faith  of  Christians,  and  prove  that  there  is  such 
a  thing  as  a  future  existence,  and  that  every 
human  being  lives  forever  either  in  heaven  or 
in  hell.  . 

These  Writings,  as  I  view  them,  come  as  an 
answer  to  the  prayers  of  God's  people.  If  you 
will  note  carefully  the  prayers  of  Christians, 
you  will  at  times  hear  earnest  pleadings  for 
just  such  openings  of  Divine  truth,  and  just 
such  heavenly  light  as  these  Writings  offer  us. 
Yet  this  light  comes  so  unexpectedly  and  is  so 
brilliant,  that  it  often  dazzles  the  eyes  even  of 
those  who  pray  thus ;  and  instead  of  accepting 
it,  they  forget  their  prayers,  and,  without  in- 
vestigation, begin  to  argue  against  it.  In 
prayer  they  ask  for  more  light  and  more  power; 
in  argument,  they  cover  up  the  light  and  de- 
stroy its  power.  They  are  like  the  disciples 
praying  earnestly  for  Peter's  deliverance  from 
prison,  who,  when  the  damsel  came  and  told 
them  that  their ,  prayers  were  answered,  and 
that  Peter  actually  stood  at  the  gate,  exclaimed 
at  once,  "  Thmi  art  mad,'*'* 


18  A  TESTIMONY   TO  THE  VALUE  OF 

Through  the  Lord's  providence  I  have  been 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  for 
nearly  thirty-four  years.  During  this  time  I 
have  been  connected  with  six  local  churches. 
I  have  attended  the  revival  meetings  of  Mr 
Moody,  and  other  Evangelists ;  and  hundreds 
of  prayer  meetings  of  other  denominations  be- 
side my  own.  And  looking  at  the  Writings  of 
Swedenborg  from  my  present  standpoint,  I  can 
assure  the  reader  that  they  neither  destroy  nor 
take  away  anything  that  the  best  men  and 
women  in  all  our  orthodox  churches  now  hold 
dear.  On  the  contrary  they  add  new  light  and 
new  beauty  to  every  doctrine  and  every  hope, 
that  sincere  and  devout  Christians  everywhere 
love  and  cherish. 

This  enlightened  man  not  only  throws  much 
new  light  on  old  truths,  but  clears  away  the 
traditional  rubbish  which  has  been  thrown  over 
the  Bible  during  the  past  centuries,  and  thus 
lets  the  old  truths  shine  out  with  even  more 
than  their  ancient  power  and  brilliancy. 

Swedenborg  must  have  received  more  Divine 
help  than  any  other  writer  that  has  lived  since 
the  Bible  was  completed.  His  writings  bear 
the  internal  and  unmistakable  evidence  of  this. 
Had  all  the  wisdom  of  Christendom  for  the  last 
eighteen  centuries  been  incarnated  in  one  man, 
that  man  could  never  have  written  what  he 
has  written,  without  special  Divine  assistance. 

Whence,  then,  comes  the  existing  prejudice 
against  this  greatest  religious  philosopher,  and 
greatest  expounder  of  the  Bible  that  the  world 
has  ever  seen  ?  I  cannot  conceive— unless  it  be 
from  the  fact  that  men's  natural  hearts  are  so 


swedenborg's  writings. 


19 


M 


! 


N 


deceitful  above  all  thiy^gs,  and  so  desperately 
wicked,  that  they  do  not  care  to  reflect  upon 
the  positive  realities  of  an  eternal  future  ex- 
istence. Fearful  of  hell,  they  drive  away  the 
thoughts  of  hell.  Conscious  of  unfitness  for 
heaven,  they  have  no  relish  for  the  thoughts  of 
heaven.  Spiritual  things  are  not  only  distaste- 
ful to  the  natural  heart,  but  oftentimes  abso- 
lutely loathsome.  Before  men  can  really  love 
the  good  and  the  true,  they  must  learn  to  loathe 
and  forsake  the  evil  and  the  false. 

"O  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  his 
goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the 
children  of  men  I  For  He  satisfieth  the  longmg 
soul,  and  filleth  the  hungry  soul  with  goodness." 
Divine  Truth,  whether  taken  from  ordmary 
books,  from  sermons,  from  Swedenborg,  or  from 
the  Bible  itself,  always  produces  similar  re- 
sults It  proves  a  savor  of  life  unto  life  to  all 
who  accept  it ;  and  a  savor  of  death  unto  death 
to  those  who  reject  it.  For  those  who  reject 
the  truth,  are  themselves  judged  and  con- 
demned by  the  truth. 

*' And  this  is  the  condemnation,"  saith  the 
Lord  'Hhat  light  is  come  into  the  world,  and 
men  \ove  darkness  rather  than  light,  because 

their  deeds  are  evil. 

*'For  every  one  that  doeth  evil  hateth  the 
light,  neither  cometh  to  the  hght,  lest  his  deeds 
should  be  reproved. 

'<•  But  he  that  doeth  truth  cometh  to  the  light, 
that  his  deeds  may  be  made  manifest  that  they 
are  wrought  in  God." 


20  A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OF 

TWO  OBJECTIONS  CONSIDERED. 

1.  Many  ministers  and  churches,  I  am  aware, 
object  to  the  reading  of  Swedenborg  from  a 
natural  and  well-grounded  fear  that  the  readers 
may  become  interested  in  his  teachings,  and 
straightway  dissolve  their  present  church  con- 
nections, and  thus  sever  the  bonds  of  brother- 
hood and  weaken  and  disturb  the  church. 
That  such  has  hitherto  been  the  course  pursued 
by  many  (perhaps  by  most)  readers,  is,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  too  true.  But  it  is  not  a  neces- 
sary, nor  do  I  think  it  the  wisest  or  best, 
course.  It  is  not  the  course  which  I  would 
advise,  nor  the  one  which  Swedenborg's  own 
teachings  seem  to  favor — as  I  think  can  be 
clearly  shown  from  liis  writings.  It  is  not  the 
course  that  was  advised  and  adopted  by  the 
saintly  John  Clowes,  who  preached  the  gospel 
as  expounded  by  Swedenborg  for  more  than 
fifty  years  to  a  large  and  admiring  congrega- 
tion of  Episcopalians  in  Manchester  (England). 
And  very  few,  I  believe,  would  think  of  taking 
this  course,  if  they  could  be  allowed  their  just 
rights  and  privileges  in  the  communion  where 
they  now  are — their  right,  I  mean,  to  read  and 
encourage  others  to  read  any  writings  and 
accept  any  teachings  which  bring  them  nearer 
to  the  Lord  and  heaven,  or  help  them  to  live 
purer  and  holier  lives.  I  am  myself  (as  already 
stated)  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church ; 
and  I  am  sure  that  my  reception  of  the  teach- 
ings of  Swedenborg  does  not  make  me  love  my 
brethren  less,  but  more  ;  nor  have  I  any  reason 
to  think  that  it  has  lessened  their  esteem  for, 


swedenborg's  WRITINGS. 


21 


V 


or  materially  changed  their  feelings  toward  me. 
They  see  that  I  am  as  scrupulous  as  ever  in 
the  performance  of  all  my  duties ;  and  so  we 
all  work  together  harmoniously,  though  we  do 
not  think  precisely  alike  on  doctrinal  points— 
thus  exemplifying  the  truth  of  what  Swieden- 
borg  as  well  as  Holy  Scripture  so  often  teaches, 
that  it  is  life  or  love,  and  not  cbctrine,  which 
constitutes  the  church;  and  "when  life  con- 
joins the  men  of  the  church,  doctrine  does  not 
separate  them;  but  if  only  doctrine  conjoins 
them  [as  was  the  case,  he  says,  in  his  day], 
then  they  mutually  separate,  and  form  as  many 
churches  as  there  are  doctrines."  (Arcana 
Coelestia,  n.  446S ;  and  The  Swedenborg  Library, 
Vol.  3,  p.  84.) 

2.  Another  objection  often  made  to  Sweden- 
borg's writings,  is,  that  they  are  too  volumi- 
nous, and  therefore  too  costly.  Few  persons, 
it  is  said,  can  afford  the  money  to  buy,  or  the 
time  to  read,  twenty  or  thirty  octavo  volumes 
of  theological  works.  And  this  objection,  I 
must  confess,  is  not  without  weight.  But  an 
enterprise  is  now  in  progress,  which  reveals  the 
beautiful  ways  and  workings  of  Providence, 
and  which  is  admirably  calculated  to  meet  and 
overcome  this  objection.  I  refer  to  the  series 
of  small  but  beautiful  volumes  being  published 
by  E.  Claxton  &  Co.,  930  Market  St.,  Philadel- 
phia, under  the  title  of  "The  Swedenborg 
Library."  The  work  is  edited  by  the  well- 
known  Swedenborgian  writer,  B.  F.  Barrett, 
than  whom  (as  well-informed  journals  tell  me) 
"no  man  living  is  more  familiar  with  the  great 
Swede's  writings,"  or  "better  qualified  for  this 


22 


A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE  VALUE  OP 


labor;"  and  its  purpose,  we  are  told,  is,  "to 
present  the  substance  of  Swedenborg's  teach- 
ings in  a  neat,  compact  and  inexpensive  form," 
in  a  series  of  judiciously  arranged  extracts 
from  his  writings,  and  "  in  the  author's  own 
language  rendered  into  good  and  intelligible 
English."  Six  of  these  exquisite  volumes  have 
already  been  published,  and  six  more  are  to 
follow — the  series  to  contain  "the  essential 
features  and  vital  portions  of  the  New  Theol- 
ogy ;"  and  they  are  sent  by  the  publishers 
(post-paid)  to  any  address,  at  the  extremely 
low  price  of  50  cents  each.  One  good  ortho- 
dox paper  (I'he  Chicago  Advance),  in  a  notice 
of  Vol.  v.,  of  this  series,  says  :  "  It  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly good  book."  Another  {The  Mimie- 
apolis  Tribune),  says:  "It  will  be  confessed  by 
every  reader  that  they  [the  extracts  in  this 
same  volume]  embody  a  code  of  the  purest 
and  highest  wisdom."  And  still  another  [The 
Chrvitian  Union),  says  of  a  previous  issue: 
"  One  cannot  read  much  in  this  or  any  other 
volume  from  the  author's  pen,  without  realizing 
that  Swedcnborg  was  spiritually-minded,  pure 
and  philosophical."  And  this  same  excellent 
paper,  some  months  ago,  placed  in  its  printed 
catalogue  of  choice  religious  works  suitable  for  a 
family  library,  all  the  then  published  volumes  of 
The  Swedenborg  Library. 

All  of  which  goes  to  corroborate  the  testi- 
mony I  have  here  given.  And  it  is  all,  be  it 
observed,  from  reliable  evangelical  sources  — 
from  good,  honest,  orthodox  Christians,  who 
may  not  have  read  much  of  these  wonderful 


SWEDENBORG'S  WRITINGS. 


23 


I 


V 


^ 


^ 


Writings,  yet  enough  to  be  satisfied  that  their 
teachings  are  pure,  wise  and  wholesome. 

But  should  the  reader  of  this  Tract  still 
think  me  too  enthusiastic  in  my  admiration 
of  these  Writings,  or  too  extravagant  in  my 
praise,  or  over  zealous  in  my  appeal,  I  would 
beg  him  to  order  at  once  one  or  two  volumes 
of ° the  "  Swedenborg  Library,"  the  titles 
of  which  (already  published)  are  as  follows  :— 

Vol.  1.  Death,  Kesurrection  and  the  Judg- 
ment. 

"    2.  Heaven. 

"    3.  Freedom,  Rationality  and  Catho- 
licity. 

**    4.  Divine  Providence  and  its  Laws. 

♦*    5.  Charity,  Faith  and  Works. 

"    6.  Free-will,    Repentance,    Reforma- 
tion and  Regeneration. 

And  if  he  sincerely  desires  the  highest  truth 
on  the  highest  subjects  of  human  contempla- 
tion, and  will  read  one  or  more  of  these  little 
books  with  a  mind  free  from  prejudice,  and  a 
heart  open  to  the  quickening  influences  of  the 
Spirit,  I  think  he  will  be  satisfied  that  my  es- 
timate of  these  Writings  is  by  no  means  ex- 
travagant. He  will  find  here  such  a  view  of 
the  real  nature  and  proper  Object  of  true  wor- 
ship ;  of  the  wisdom  of  God's  Providence  and 
the  laws  that  govern  its  manifold  operations  ; 
of  the  nature  of  the  infernal  and  the  heavenly 
kingdom,  and  Jiow  the  former  is  to  be  over- 
thrown and.  the  latter  established  here  on 
earth;   of   the  nature  of   the  regenerate  or 


24 


A  TESTIMONY  TO  THE   VALUE  OF 


heavenly  life,  and  how  that  life  is  to  be  at- 
tained ;  and  of  the  nature,  extent  and  variety 
of  the  true  church  Catholic— the  real  Apoca- 
lyptic New  Jerusalem— as  he  can  find  no- 
where else  even  if  he  should  ransack  all  the 
theological  libraries  in  Christendom. 

In  conclusion : — 

Beloved  reader,  if  you  really  desire  to  get 
rational  and  Scriptural  ideas  of  God,  of  the 
church,  of  the  soul  of  man,  and  of  life  beyond 
the  grave,  then  lay  aside  all  prejudice  (if  you 
have  any)  and  read  and  study  the  works  of 
Swedenborg. 

If  you  desire  to  develop  a  symmetrical  and 
well-rounded  Christian  character,  then  lay 
aside  every  atom  of  your  sectarianism  (if  you 
have  any)  and,  with  a  childlike  spirit  of  teach- 
ableness, read  carefully  and  thoughtfully  the 
works  of  this  illumined  man. 

If  you  would  like  to  have  your  pride  and 
self-conceit  all  torn  up  by  the  roots  and  cast  to 
the  four  winds,  then  lay  aside  all  ideas  of  your 
present  great  attainments,  either  in  Scripture 
knowledge  or  heavenly  graces,  and  become  a 
humble  student  of  Swedenborg. 

If  you  are  not  actually  afraid  to  go  to  the 
very  bottom  of  your  heart  in  search  of  its  man- 
ifold evils  ;  and  if  you  possess  the  moral  brave- 
ry to  traverse  your  own  soul  through  and 
through,  as  with  a  lighted  candle,  in  search  of 
your  very  last  secret  fault :  then  read,  careful- 
ly and  prayerfully,  the  heart-searching  Writ- 
ings of  this  heavenly-minded  man. 

If  you  desire  to  get  some  adequate  concep- 


SWEDENBOKG'S  WRITINGS. 


25 


\ 


Y 


tion  of  how  much  it  means  to  love  God  with 
all  your  heart  and  your  neighbor  as  yourself; 
if  you  wish  to  learn  what  it  is  to  die,  and  how 
you  ought  to  live  to  meet  a  happy  death  and 
a  glorious  resurrection ;  if  you  would  like  to 
know  to  what  a  terrible  hell  you  are  tending 
so  long  as  you  follow  the  dictates  of  your  own 
selfhood ;  if  you  wish  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the 
ineffable  peace  and  bliss,  and  the  ''exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory  "  that  awaits  the 
*'  pure  in  heart ;"  if  you  desire  some  clear  con- 
ception of  how  little  you  really  know  about  the 
higher  or  true  heavenly  life,  and  how  much 
there  is  which  you  do  not  know  ;  if  you  wish 
to  get  a  true  idea  of  your  own  weakness  and 
your  personal  insignificance  ;  and  if  you  hon- 
estly desire  to  become  a  better  man  or  a  better 
woman  than  you  now  are,  no  matter  how  high 
your  present  standing  may  be,  then,  with  the 
/  humility  of  a  little  child,  study  the  heavenly 
Writings  of  this  God-illumined  teacher. 

Finally :  If  you  are  already  a  sincere  lover 
of  the  Lord,  and  desire  to  know  more  about 
Him  and  His  relation  to  and  dealings  with  the 
children  of  men  ;  and  if  you  wish  to  learn  just 
how  to  feed  your  inner  life  on  pure  Divine 
Truth  and  your  inmost  soul  on  pure  Divine 
Love  ;  and  if  you  desire  to  become  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  deep  things  of  God  ;  and  if 
you  really  wish  to  know  what  it  means  to  be 
an  actual  partaker  of  the  Lord's  Divine  nature 
and  of  His  own  holiness  ;  and  if  you  desire  to 
learn  how  to  dwell  continually  in  the  secret 
place  of  the*  Most  High,  and  to  abide  forever 
under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty ;  then  study 


26 


swedenborg's  writings. 


diligently  the  deep  spiritual  meaning  of  God's 
Word  as  now  explained  by  the  Lord  himself, 
in  the  Writings  of  His  servant  Emanuel  Swe- 
denborg. 

Objections  to  this  heavenly-minded  Writer 
usually  come  from  one  of  two  sources  :  First^ 
from  those  who  base  their  opinion  on  ''hear- 
say," and  arc  not,  therefore,  personally  ac- 
quainted with  his  Writings ;  or,  Secondlif^  from 
those  who  may  have  read  some,  but  whose  re- 
ligious experience  is  not  deep  enough,  and 
whose  hearts  and  minds  are,  therefore,  not  yet 
pure  enough,  to  understand  and  appreciate 
such  Writings. 

Therefore,  I  would  say  to  each  one  of  the 
churches  of  Christendom,  everywhere,  "Lift 
up  thine  eyes  round  about  and  see."  "Arise, 
shine ;  for  thy  light  is  come^  and  the  glory  of 
the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee." 

These  words  of  testimony  are  the  free  and 
spontaneous  overflow  of  a  heart  free,  as  I  be- 
lieve, from  all  sectarian  and  denominational 
bias,  and  full  of  love  to  man  and  of  gratitude 
to  God  for  the  gracious  influence  of  His  loving 
Spirit  tliat  opened  my  eyes  to  see  the  trutli 
and  my  heart  to  feel  the  power  of  His  love  ; 
and  also  for  the  benign  Providence  that  intro- 
duced me  to  the  pure  and  heavenly  Writings 
of  His  wise  and  faithful  servant  Emanuel  Swe- 
denborg. 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  15, 1880. 


1 


\ 


Corroborative  Testimony 

FROM  OTHER  SOURCES. 


That  a  great  change  in  the  popular  estimate 
of  Swedenborg  and  his  teachings,  has  taken 
place  in  our  country  within  the  last  few  years, 
IS  obvious  from  the  tone  of  the  periodical  press. 
A  few  brief  extracts  from  recent  notices  of  his 
works,  are  here  added,  in  illustration  and  con- 
firmation of  this  statement. 

The  Independei\t  (New  York)  says  :  — 

"Whoever  desires  to  understand  modern  the- 
ology and  the  elements  which  have  contributed 
to  its  formation,  has  need  to  stud}'^  the  writings 
of  Emanuel^Swedenborg. 

''There  is  in  these  writings  a  marvellous  in- 
sight,—  a  vision  of  the  higher  truths  of  philos- 
ophy and  religion,  to  which  few  men  have  at- 
tained." 

(^  The  Advance  (Chicago)  says  :  — 

''  Swedenborg  deserves  to  be  studied  as  a 
philosophic  writer  not  often  excelled  in  pro- 
fundity, acuteness,  variety  and  consistency  of 
thought." 

The  Christian  Union  (New  York)  says  :  — 
*'  Certainly  no  man  living  up  to  the  tcnelfv 
of  Swedenborg,  should  be  other  than  a  sincern, 
humble,  and  sweet-minded  Christian  " 

The  Evening  Post  (New  York)  says 
*'Swedenborg's  system  has  produced  a  vwiy 
profound  influence  upon  modern  religious 
thought.  .  ,  Its  influence  has  been  all  the 
more  potent  because  silent  and  unrecognized. 
Certainly  he  who  desires  to  understand  the  re- 
*l      ligious  convictions  of  the  present  age,  cannot 

27 


28 


CORROBORATIVE  TESTIMONY 


afford  to  be  ignorant  of  the  contribution  which 
Emanuel  Swedenborg  has  made  toward  them." 

The  Chicago  Tribune  says  :  — 

"  Many  persons  of  all  sects  are  greatly  inter- 
ested in  Swedenborg's  teaching,  and  it  seems 
likely  to  leaven  more  or  less  the  entire  lump  of 
modern  religion." 

The  North  American  (Philadelphia)  says  :  — 
''It  is  proof  of  the  vital  nature  of  Sweden- 
borer's  writings  that  they  have  not  only  sur- 
vived sharp  opposition,  but  that  they  con- 
stantly acquire  new  disciples  and  a  greater 
circulation." 

The  Evening  Journal  (Chicago)  says  :  — 
*'  There  is  not  a  reflective  person  in  the  world 
whom  Swedenborg's  writings  wilUnot  interest. 
.  .  If  we  look  for  true  Christianity,  we  may 
find  it  everywhere  in  his  books.  If  we  seek  for 
arguments  that  no  human  being  has  yet  re- 
futed, we  shall  find  them  also  there." 

The  Daily  Times  (Parkersburg,  Va.)  says  :  — 
"No  one  who  wishes  to  have  his  faith  secure, 
.  and  who  wishes  that  peace  which  truth  alone 
can  inspire,  should  fail  to  read  his  [Sweden- 
borg's] writings." 

The  San  Francisco  Bulletin  says  :  — 
''  There  have  been  plenty  of  seers  who  claimed 
to  have  heavenly  visions,  but  none  who  describe 
what  they  saw  with  such  realism  and  apparent 
truthfulness  as  Swedenborg.  If  what  he  relates 
[about  Heaven]  is  a  coinage  of  the  brain,  then 
is  he  the  greatest  master  of  fiction  among  mod- 
ern writers." 

The  Pittsburg  Gazette  says  :  — 
"  No  system  of  religion  in  these  latter  days 
has  awakened  so  much  interest  as  that  of  Swe- 


FROM  OTHER  SOURCES. 


29 


1 


v 


denborg  .  .  There  has  always  been  a  charm 
attached  to  it  of  the  ethereal  cast,  which  has 
attracted  multitudes  to  its  standard ;  and  no 
wonder,  as  it  is  composed  of  such  elements  as 
will  find  followers." 

• 

The  Evening  Mail  (New  York)  says  :  — 
"  Swedenborgianism  is  becoming  an  element 
of  great  activity  and  importance  in  the  religious 
belief  and  life  of  to-day  .  .  It  is  very  true,  as 
has  been  observed  lately  by  several  critics,  that 
the  doctrines  of  the  Swedish  seer  have  become 
a  permeating  formative  influence  throughout 
the  orthodox  churches." 

The  Cincinnati  Times  says  :  — 

**  We  can  heartily  commend  this  little  book 
[The  Swedenborg  Library]  to  any  who 
may  desire  a  general  notion  of  the  theological 
views  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  that 
ever  lived." 

Rev.  James  Freeman  Clarke,  author  of  "  The 
Ten  Great  Religions,"  and  other  works,  in  his 
discourse  on  "  Christianity :  Is  it  just  ending  or 
beginning  ?"  says  :  — 

*' While  Wesley  was  made  the  mediator  of  a 
new  moral  force  flowing  out  of  Christianity, 
Emanuel  Swedenborg  became  the  organ  of  a 
new  spiritual  philosophy,  the  power  of  which 
is  hardly  yet  understood,  but  which  seems 
likely  to  leaven  all  religious  thought,  and 
change  all  arbitrary  theologies  into  a  spiritual 
rationalism.  But  Swedenborg  did  not  go  out 
of  Christianity  to  find  his  ideas.  Like  George 
Fox  and  John  Wesley,  he  found  them  m 
Christ." 

Bishop  Ilurd,  in  his  ''History  of  the  Rites 
and  Ceremoilies  of  all  Nations,"  alluding  to 
the  vulgar  charge  of  madness  or  monomania 


CORROBORATIVE  TESTIMONY. 

orought  against  Swedenborg, —  which  he  calls 
"  an  insult  to  common  sense,  being  overruled 
by  every  page  of  his  writings  as  well  as  by 
every  act  of  his  life,"  —  says  :  — 

"  It  operates  powerfully  with  many,  even  at 
this  day,  to  prejudice  them  against  a  character 
which  otherwise  they  would  revere,  and  against 
writings  from  which  they  would  otherwise  re- 
ceive the  most  welcome  instruction." 

Rev.  Charles  G.  Ames,  in  his  ''  Estimate  of 
Swedenborg"  in  the  Christian  liegister^  says  :  — 

"  No  man  ever  looked  into  Swedenborg  far 
enough  to  learn  what  he  means,  without  re- 
ceiving a  profound  impression,  and  confessing 
to  a  large  indebtedness.  His  increasing  influ- 
ence appears  in  nearly  all  recent  and  important 
modifications  of  religious  thought ;  in  the  most 
salutary  and  etfective  preaching  of  our  times  ; 
in  the  growing  reasonableness,  catholicity  and 
humanity  of  the  churches  ;  and  in  all  aspira- 
tions toward  a  more  perfect  social  order." 

Rev.  E.  H.  Sears,  author  of  that  interesting 
and  powerful  work,  ''The  Fourth  Gosjiel,  the 
Heart  of  Christ,"  says  :  — 

"  Swedenborg's  essential  system  has  a  unity 
of  its  own,  and  an  organic  connection  with 
Christianity,  such  as  avouches  itself  the  genu- 
ine development  of  the  Christian  system.  His 
cosmology,  his  theology  and  his  pneumatology, 
are  the  Christian  revelation  breaking  into  more 
full  and  rational  light  from  the  seals  of  the  let- 
ter which  had  kept  and  preserved  it." 

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A  valuable  work  containing  the  essential  features  and 
vital  portions  of  the  New  Theology,  in  choice  extracts 
from  the  writings  of  Emanuel  Swedenborg  (with  refer- 
ences to  the  works  whence  taken).  The  various  topics  are 
80  arranged  and  classified  that  the  reader,  with  the  aid 
of  a  full  Table  of  Contents,  can  readily  turn  to  any  sub- 
ject on  which  he  desires  information,  and  will  there  find 
all  the  best  things  that  Swedenborg  has  said  on  that  sub- 
ject. The  series  when  complete,  will  comprise  twelve 
beautiful  volumes,  (averaging  240  pages  each)  neatly 
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Each  volume  is  .complete  in  itself  and  can  be  had  sepa- 
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address  on  receipt  of  50  cents.     The  volumes  are: 

1.  Death,  Uesurrection  and  the  Judgment. 

2.  Heaven. 

3.  Freedom,  Rationality,  and  ratholicity. 

4.  Divine  Providence  and  iU  Lans. 
B.  Charity,  Faith  and  Works. 

6.  Free-will,  Repentance.  Reformation  and  Refreneration. 

7.  Holy  Scripture  and  tlie  Key  to  its  Spiritual  Sense. 

8.  Creation,    Incarnation,  Kedcmption,  and    the  Divine 

Trinity. 

9.  Marriage  and  the  Sexes  in  Both  Worlds. 

10.  The  New  and  Heavenly  Doctrine  of  the  Lord. 

11.  The  Memorabilia. 
18,  Swedenborg;  With  a  Compend  of  his  Teachings. 

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